Pet Bed Tutorials

The guild has two pet bed/ cat bed tutorials. One is regular and one is simplified. These were written by Amanda.

Because of various technical challenges with Blogger, these are stored on Jaye's blog and not here.

Charity Sew Day Saturday

Our next fun filled Sew Day is this coming Saturday, May 6th.
Location: Grace Lutheran Church
3149 Waverly Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306
(Corner of Waverly and Loma Verde Street)
10-4pm

Please bring:

• Your sunny smiling self
• Light non-messy snacks (take home whatever isn't eaten)

Plan to bring your own:

• Sewing machine
• Cutting tools (your own personal mat if you want)
• Fabric and other project parts

We provide:

• Patterns and fabric for walker bags
• Ironing Boards (2)
• Irons (2)
• Cutting Mats
• Extension Cords (but you should pack one just in case!)
• No donation needed! Unless you want to be generous of heart.

If you can, get there early and help Mary set up! Please remember to put your chair and table back (unless you are sharing a table!) if you leave early.  If you stay to the end your help is greatly appreciated in putting away all the tables and chairs.

We want to see you even if you are not inspired to work on charity projects. Many hands make light work! THANK YOU!

Thank you Mary for setting this up!

Charity Sew Day is Tomorrow

Our next fun filled Charity Sew Day is tomorrow Saturday, May 6th.

Location: Grace Lutheran Church
3149 Waverly Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306
(Corner of Waverly and Loma Verde Street)
10-4pm

Please bring:

• Your sunny smiling self
• Light non-messy snacks (take home whatever isn't eaten)

Plan to bring your own:

• Sewing machine
• Cutting tools (your own personal mat if you want)
• Notions and other tools

We provide:

• Patterns and fabric for walker bags
• Ironing Boards (2)
• Irons (2)
• Cutting Mats
• Extension Cords (but you should pack one just in case!)
• No donation needed! Unless you want to be generous of heart.

If you can, get there early and help Mary set up! Please remember to put your chair and table back (unless you are sharing a table!) if you leave early.  If you stay to the end your help is greatly appreciated in putting away all the tables and chairs.

We want to see you even if you are not inspired to work on charity projects. Many hands make light work! THANK YOU!

Thank you Mary for setting this up!

Blankets for Babies

Back in November Kate, the Stanford NICU nurse in charge of the quilt project, came and spoke to us about her Blankets for Babies project. This is the name of the project under the umbrella of which we donate quilts to the NICU at Stanford. She was able to dispel many of the myths that have been perpetuated about this project. Your editor got the impression that the whole group was more fired up about making charity quilts for Stanford after she spoke.

Kate is a self taught quiltmaker. She started about 15 years ago when she bought her first machine. She started Blankets for Babies around the same time.

She told us about the services the NICU provides, which was very helpful as many members do not have experience of the NICU.

The babies come to the NICU and stay for 1 day to 6 months and longer because of infections, birth trauma or because they are premature. She follows the NICU babies through their entire hospitalization. The NICU is frightening sterile environment. The blankets and quilts enrich this stressful, sterile place. The quilts:

• can be the first gift the baby receives
• can help soften the technology and help families overlook it
• bring families comfort, love and warmth
• act as a beacon for families - they are drawn to the quilts
• cover Isolettes to block out the light and act to dampen sound

Generally, each baby gets more than one quilt because they grow out of them. Parents are often thrilled to receive such a gift. Families are very proud of  the quilts they receive. Kate never has enough and values and hoards them.

The whole department gets excited when a new batch of quilts arrive. They are excited to see the new colors and patterns. If they were to receive a load of 100 quilts on Sunday, all the quilts would be gone on Tuesday. They get a lot of quilts at Christmas and summer months are lean.

Suggestions when making NICU quilts:

• 30 inches - 45 inches max
• quilts should be super soft - avoid scratchy fabrics*
• stay away from religious themes (Christmas quilts are not always appropriate)
• stay away from political themes
• try to be culturally sensitive - e.g. no cows (Indian), no pigs (Jewish)
• quilts should be light and fluffy
• quilt should be cheerful
• No buttons or embellishments
• quilts do not have to be pastels, but stay away from all beige/depressing fabrics
• prewash all fabrics (Nota bene: Karen washes all quilts before she takes them to Stanford! Thanks, Karen!)
• Check for pins!!!
• OK to label quilts. In fact she likes it as families often ask who whom they can show gratitude

 Thanks to Karen M. for setting up this lecture. Go make some quilts!!!





*they take knitted and crocheted blankets/afghans as well, but find that some yarns can be scratchy as well.

Charity Sew Day Success

The Charity Sew Day was a great success.

First, we had a great turn out. The Charity Girls counted 21 people there. Of course, people were in constant motion and came and went so there could have been a few more.

We finished 31 tops,which was everything the Charity Girls had prepared for the group to work on. WOW!! Several of those tops were quilted and one was completely finished. This is a great start to surpassing last year's total. Some people brought tops they had worked on at home, so those will be offered for finishing and added to the total. 

Michelle will bring 13 tops to the meeting on Saturday for people to take home and quilt.

Great work, everyone! Keep it up.

Charity Sew Day Tomorrow

The next Charity Sew Day is on tomorrow, Saturday February 4 from 10-4, at Grace Lutheran Church in Palo Alto.

Grace Lutheran Church
3149 Waverley St
Palo Alto, CA 94306

As you know, the guild was the recipient of a large amount of modern fabric last Fall. This fabric was designated for our charity efforts. At tomorrow's Charity Sew Day we will be making NICU quilts from the fat quarters that were part of the donation. We will be working with a line of florals and two Riley Blake fabrics: Fly Aweigh,* a nautical line, and Oh Boy, which is all about transportation.  The latter two will make great boy quilts.

There are 64 fat quarters and we have fabric to make 32 NICU tops.  Each top should take about half an hour to complete.

Peggy spotted a quilt on the Quiltmaker site quilt, which will make a great and easy donation quilt. It is a variation on a Rail Fence. Michelle changed the size of the pieces to use up as much of the fat quarters as possible.

We have a few mats, rulers, and cutters, but bring your own favorite tools so we have enough to accommodate everyone.
 
Things to bring (in general):

• Your name tag
• Charity blocks and quilts 
• Non-messy snacks
• Sewing gear (machine, mats, irons, etc) 

Thanks to Michelle and Peggy for chairing Charity again and working hard to set up this Charity Sew Day and to Mary C for securing the place.








*The Fly Aweigh link above provides a free quilt pattern project sheet.

Charity Sew Day is on Saturday

The next Charity Sew Day is on Saturday February 4 from 10-4 at Grace Lutheran Church in Palo Alto.


Grace Lutheran Church
3149 Waverley St
Palo Alto, CA 94306

As you know, the guild was the recipient of a large amount of modern fabric last Fall. At the next charity sew day we will be making NICU quilts from the fat quarters that were part of the donation. We will be working with a line of florals and two Riley Blake fabrics: Fly Aweigh, a nautical line, and Oh Boy, which is all about transportation.  

There are 64 fat quarters and we have fabric to make 32 NICU tops.  Each top should take about half an hour to complete.

Peggy spotted a quilt on the Quiltmaker site quilt, which will make a great and easy donation quilt. It is a variation on a Rail Fence. Michelle changed the size of the pieces to use up as much of the fat quarters as possible.

We have a few mats, rulers, and cutters, but bring your own favorite tools so we have enough to accommodate everyone.
 

Things to bring (in general):

• Your name tag
• Charity blocks and quilts 
• Non-messy snacks
• Sewing gear (machine, mats, irons, etc) 

Thanks to Michelle and Peggy for chairing Charity again and working hard to set up this Charity Sew Day and to Mary C for securing the place.

BAM Pulse Quilts

The Orlando Modern Quilt Guild updated their meeting minutes and included a detailed description of their Pulse Project. The scale of the project is mind boggling. I was amazed at what they have accomplished, especially when I saw the numbers of quilts and what they did to blocks and pieces and parts they received. The outpouring of love is amazing.

They also posted some photos of the first distribution on the OrMQG Instagram feed.

Cheryl recently posted photos of the quilts she sent that were made by YOU!

Sew Day TOMORROW!!!

Are you ready?

Location: Grace Lutheran Church
3149 Waverly Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306
(Corner of Waverly and Loma Verde Street)

Please bring:

• Light non-messy snacks
• Irons (3)
• Ironing boards (3)
• Large cutting mats (need 2)
• Design walls (need 2)
• Small amount of cash for a donation for the space

Reply to the Ning discussion or here to let Mary know what you will bring.

Plan to bring your own:

• Extension cord and/or power strip
• Sewing machine
• Cutting tools (your own personal mat if you want)

RSVP by TODAY to Mary C.

Thank you Mary for setting this up!

August Sew Day - August 13

Hey kids! Get ready for another Sew Day!

Location: Grace Lutheran Church
3149 Waverly Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306
(Corner of Waverly and Loma Verde Street)

Please bring:

• Light non-messy snacks
• Irons (3)
• Ironing boards (3)
• Large cutting mats (need 2)
• Design walls (need 2)
• Small amount of cash for a donation for the space

Reply to the Ning discussion or here to let Mary know what you will bring.

Plan to bring your own:

• Extension cord and/or power strip
• Sewing machine
• Cutting tools (your own personal mat if you want)

RSVP by the Friday before each sew day to Mary C.

Thank you Mary for setting this up!

Sew Day Next Saturday

Grace Lutheran Church
3149 Waverly Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306
(Corner of Waverly and Loma Verde Street)
Please bring:

• Light non-messy snacks
• Irons (3)
• Ironing boards (3)
• Large cutting mats (need 2)
• Design walls (need 2)
• Small amount of cash for a donation for the space

Reply to the Ning discussion or here to let Mary know what you will bring.

Plan to bring your own:

• Extension cord and/or power strip
• Sewing machine
• Cutting tools (your own personal mat if you want)

RSVP by the Friday before each sew day to Mary C.

Thank you Mary for setting this up!

Hearts for Orlando

Sewing Table 1

As mentioned briefly in the meeting notes, we stayed after to make blocks for the victims, families and first responders in Orlando, Florida. You can find more information about the project and how to help on the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild blog. Wednesday's post has all the details for mailing, what they need and how you can help. Monday's post has the pattern and some preliminary details.

First group of blocks laid out

After our business meeting, a bunch of us sewed for an hour and a half. We made 41 blocks. That is not quite enough for two quilts, but people decided to take them and make the tops and more blocks at home.

Chuck marking and Mike sewing

Karen M. got us all going and kind of coordinated. We had kind of an assembly line going. Some pressed fabric , some people cut backgrounds and others cut foregrounds, some marked and some sewed. Other people pressed blocks and eventually a few people started laying out blocks to make a top. I gave advice at Table 2 as I had made a few blocks, but generally we all worked together.

In the photo above, you can see the cat bed ready to receive schnibbles (top right) and Angela giving advice on the layout. Chuck is marking patches and then handing them off to Mike who is sewing (top left). My background cutting station is in the lower middle.

You can see from the photo above that some of us used some artistic license for the blocks. I think the quilts will be just as great with plump fat hearts and skinny, pointy hearts.

June 2016 Meeting Notes

WOW! What a great meeting. We really had a good time. I know I always say that, but it is true.

About 40 people attended and Helen H. acted as our last President for a Day. She did a great job. Joelle, who is now retired (since Wednesday!) will take over as president for the rest of the year.

The question of the month was: What Does Stitch Happiness Mean to You? Members offered up lots of great answers:

• fun to see a pile of fabric turn into something useful
• when a project works
• good looking FMQ
• giving a quilt to someone
• playing with color
• creating something someone enjoys
• anything with fabric and thread
• a place I'd like to be more often
• empty house with no interruptions
• finally sewing an old project together
• quilt top a friend turns into a quilt
• the space between buying fabric and a completed project
• using my hands
• coming to BAM
• new needle
• mistakes turn into something creative
• image in my mind turns out better than I imagined
• cutting strips and making bigger and bigger quilts
• when the project turns out
• idea of time to myself to get into the zone
• design inspiration
• thinking of a person I like/love and giving them a quilt
• handwork
• making things my girls will enjoy
• cleaning off surfaces
• sewing with friends
• get out of bed, sit down right away at the machine
• being recipient of what my daughter makes
• turning a pile of scraps into something even better
• mastering a new technique
• seeing pictures of people with the quilt I gave them
• sitting at machine and listening to the machine as I sew
• quilt workshops
• when I am unsure of fabric choices and the project turns out great

What is your Stitch Happiness? Leave us a comment!

Ongoing Projects (Lynette)

• Bring your Library books next time
• Sew Day will be July 9 at Grace Lutheran from ~10-4pm 

Challenge (Karen)

The curve challenge projects are due in August. Project (quilt, bag, pillow, mugrug, etc)  should have curves in it.

Finished quilt from Charity Sew Day

Charity (Michelle)

• Four quilts were made at the Charity Sew Day for the victims of the Sunnyvale apartment fires. Michelle B. designed the pattern (see above) for the Charity Sew Day. It was Quilt-As-You-Go, which cut down the quilt making time by a lot! About 30 quilts have been collected so far for the 78+ families who lost everything. See Michelle S. if you want to donate a quilt.
• Stay after the meeting to sew Hearts for Orlando
• Michelle is still working on the QuiltCon 2017 charity quilt project

Workshops (Angela)

• Molehills workshop with Latifah Saafir was last Sunday. A good time was had by all.
• Jaime will be leading a bag workshop on August 6, starting at 9:30, using the Noodlehead Cargo Duffle bag pattern (free). There is a $10 fee for the room rental. Jaime has a lot of tricks and tips as well as useful additions to the bag, so you will definitely want to contact Angela ASAP to sign up. Jaime and Angela will have handouts at the next meeting do you will know what your homework is. Yes, there will be a lot of cutting and fusing homework to do before class so plan accordingly.

Quilty Happenings

• Fixit Clinics are starting to happen around the Bay Area. They are about fixing your stuff rather than buying new in order to keep broken and torn items out of the landfill. Alison S. will be volunteering at one in the East Bay. You can volunteer to help people fix stuff.
• Palo Alto Repair Cafe is the same sort of idea.
• The San Mateo County Fair is on through tomorrow. Michelle B, Jaye, Bonnie T, Leanne F, and CeCe M all won prizes for their quilts. Lynette will pick up the quilts on Monday and will bring them to Sew Day and to the next meeting. Contact her if you need your quilt sooner.
• Quiltworks is in a bit of turmoil, but righting the ship. They want volunteers to work in the shop on a regular basis. 
• PIQF is in October. Entries are open and there is a modern quilt category again. The theme again is mid-century modern, but Nicki said just to enter because the theme was interpreted very broadly last year. Entries due August 30. Kaffe Fasset will be teaching and lecturing.
• The Mancusos also have a modern quilt symposium. It will October 5-7 in Palm Springs.
• The Kaffe exhibit is still up at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles through July 3.

Mini Quilt Swap June 2016

Mini Quilt Swap

• Ruth showed the original picture and the maker showed the quilt and presented the quilt to the recipient.

Retreat

• Signups were last month. Four people are on the waiting list

Drawing

• Amy won the drawing!

After the above part of the meeting we had the DESTASH PARTY! There was a ton of fabric and lots of good books, notions. It was amazing.

About 12 people stayed to sew Hearts for Orlando. Total we made 41 blocks. Two people brought blocks home to make them into quilts. Keep making those hearts!!!

Next meeting is July 16, 2016. Be there or be square!

Hearts for Orlando

By now most of us have heard of the horrendous massacre in Orlando. In true quiltmaker fashion the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild has started a quilt drive to create quilts for the victims and families of the slain. There is some discrepancy between the IG post and the blog post as to whether they are collecting quilts and blocks or just quilts. I *think* if you want to send blocks, send them to Intrepid Thread. The SV MQG based there will make them into quilts.

The overall  idea is to make heart blocks in bright, rainbow colors to represent everyone affected, and obviously represent the love we are sending them. Use the tutorial from Cluck Cluck Sew to make 10" blocks in rainbow of bright colors, with a low volume background. The quilts should be no smaller than 5 blocks wide and 6 blocks long. You're more than welcome to make them larger, they'd like to keep them at the very least lap sized.

Overview:
Pattern: Cluck Cluck Sew Hearts
Size: 10"x 10"
Colors: varying rainbow of prints with low volume background
Send quilt to Orlando MQG (check blog for address)
Send blocks to Intrepid Thread
Timeframe: ASAP!

A lot of questions were brought up in the comments on the Orlando MQG post, so keep an eye on that blog for more information and the information on where to send the quilts.

Julie is hosting a get together this weekend to make blocks and quilts. Contact Julie at the Intrepid Thread for more details. If you have any other questions, please email alissalapinsky [at] gmail [dot] com. She is the president of the Orlando MQG.

Charity Sew Day Tomorrow

Grace Lutheran Church
3149 Waverly Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306
(Corner of Waverly and Loma Verde Street)
Please bring:

• Light non-messy snacks
• Irons (3)
• Ironing boards (3)
• Large cutting mats (need 2)
• Design walls (need 2)

Reply to the Ning discussion or here to let Peggy and Michelle know what you will bring.

Plan to bring your own:

• Extension cord and/or power strip
• Sewing machine
• Cutting tools (your own personal mat if you want)

RSVP by the Friday before each sew day to Mary C.

Thank you Mary for setting this up!

Charity Sew Day is Saturday

Where: Brown Hall, on the Loma Verde side of campus
Grace Lutheran Church
3149 Waverly Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306
(Corner of Waverly and Loma Verde Street)

Please bring:

• Light non-messy snacks
• Irons (3)
• Ironing boards (3)
• Large cutting mats (need 2)
• Design walls (need 2)

Reply to the Ning discussion or here to let Peggy and Michelle know what you will bring.

Plan to bring your own:

• Extension cord and/or power strip
• Sewing machine
• Cutting tools (your own personal mat if you want)

RSVP by the Friday before each sew day to Mary C.

Thank you Mary for setting this up!

Charity Sew Day Tomorrow!!!!

We will be sewing "Wheel Chair Quilts" for charity TOMORROW.  Fabric will be waiting for you.   The ever popular postage stamp quilts and other charity projects will also be available.  Or bring your own project to work on.

Date: Saturday, November 7, 2015

• 12 Noon to 8:00 PM
• Willow Ranch Mobile Home Park Club House
• 1111 Morse Ave
• Sunnyvale, CA 94089

 Directions to the park are on the Ning site.  There is parking around the club house.  If full, park on the street to unload you car and I will direct you to other parking area's in the park.
If you plan on being there, PLEASE reply to this discussion (or comment on this post and your reply will be recorded) as the Charity Girls need a head count.

Please bring:

• Light non-messy snacks
• Irons (3)
• Ironing boards (3)
• Large cutting mats (need 2)
• Design walls (need 2)

Reply to the Ning discussion or here to let Peggy and Michelle know what you will bring.

Plan to bring your own:

• Extension cord and/or power strip
• Sewing machine
• Cutting tools (your own personal mat if you want)

Charity Sew Day Saturday 11/7

Can you believe it is November already? I can't, but so it is and that means a Charity Sew Day. Bring your machine and supplies and let's get some sewing done!!!

We will be sewing "Wheel Chair Quilts" for charity.  Fabric will be waiting for you.   The ever popular postage stamp quilts and other charity projects will also be available.  Or bring your own project to work on.

Date:Saturday, November 7, 2015

•  12 Noon to 8:00 PM
• Willow Ranch Mobile Home Park Club House
• 1111 Morse Ave
• Sunnyvale, CA 94089

 Directions to the park are on the Ning site.  There is parking around the club house.  If full, park on the street to unload you car and I will direct you to other parking area's in the park.
If you plan on being there, PLEASE reply to this discussion (or comment on this post and your reply will be recorded) as the Charity Girls need a head count.

Please bring:

• Light non-messy snacks
• Irons (3)
• Ironing boards (3)
• Large cutting mats (need 2)
• Design walls (need 2)

Reply to the Ning discussion or here to let Peggy and Michelle know what you will bring.

Plan to bring your own:

• Extension cord and/or power strip
• Sewing machine
• Cutting tools (your own personal mat if you want)

PIQF Help Needed!!

Hello All!

PIQF (Pacific International Quilt Festival) is coming up in October from the 15th - 18th at the Santa Clara County Convention Center (10am - 6pm Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and 9am - 3pm on Sunday).  

The BAMQG will be showing our Opportunity Quilt there and selling raffle tickets.  Please see the post on the Ning Forum for details about signing up - we need volunteers!  And.......we have prizes!  The top two people who volunteer the most hours will win prizes!  So go and sign up for a slot or two or three today!  All slots are 2 hours shifts - both Opportunity Quilt Ticket selling, and White gloving.  Help spread the good news of our Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild! :)

Any questions, or if you want to sign up with me directly, comment below or on the Ning post

Thanks much!

Amanda

Charity Sew Day TOMORROW!!!

The next Charity Sew Day is tomorrow, August 1, 2015, 11-7 at the Los Altos Library. The theme will be in line with the QuiltCon Charity colors.

Where: Los Altos Library, 13 S San Antonio Rd, Los Altos, CA 94022,
When: 11am-7pm
What:Working together to sew for charity

Bring your machine, cutting tools and standard sewing kit as well as non-messy snacks and a GREAT attitude.

There will be some time available to work on your own projects.